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The star of Day 1 of SEC Media Days? Surprise, it’s Tim Tebow

HOOVER, Ala. – Tim Tebow was nowhere near the Wynfrey Hotel on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop Tebow from being the star of the show on the first day of SEC Media Days.

(I know, I know. And in other news, cats hate dogs.)

But seriously, Tebow will be a larger-than-life figure this season, based on how often his name was brought up Wednesday and the glowing comments opposing coaches and players made about him.

The most interesting moment of the day came during Dan Mullen’s press conference, when Mullen, Tebow’s former offensive coordinator and now the head coach at Mississippi State, got a little choked up while relaying his feelings about Tebow.

“If you get the opportunity to meet him, spend time with him, he’s one of the most unique people in the world. I probably have more respect for him than anybody I’ve ever met. Just an amazing kid. Just an amazing kid,” Mullen said, trying to hold back the tears. “He taught me a very valuable lesson in life: If you can make an impact on someone’s life, it’s your obligation to do that. And he is one of the most amazing young people out there.”

Afterward, Mullen claimed he didn’t shed any tears, “but if you get me talking about him long enough, I probably could get one.”

Tebow didn’t make anyone else cry on Wednesday, but plenty of great stuff was said about him by players and coaches from Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

Here are the highlights:

First, right off the bat, to all four head coaches:

Who did you vote for All-SEC Quarterback?

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino: “I’m not crazy. I probably did (vote for Tebow).”

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson: “Tim Tebow. I don’t know if y’all are going to find the culprit who didn’t vote. You could tell him it wasn’t me.”

Mullen: I was going to start with that statement right now. Believe it or not, I voted for Tim Tebow.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks: You guys are going to try to narrow it done to get somebody to spill their guts? How could I not vote for Tim Tebow? We couldn’t stop him the last two years. It isn’t me. I’m not the guy. Good luck in your search.

Does Tebow have what it takes to play in the NFL?

Petrino: You’re looking for a guy that you want to lead your team. You want to find a guy that is a great leader, a great competitor, and is a proven winner. Tim has shown to do all those things. I think he’s a tremendous football player. I think he can make all the throws you need to make at the next level. He can throw the post, he can throw the deep comebacks, the go routes. There’s no question in my mind that he’ll be very successful in the NFL.

Brooks: Does he have the talent? He absolutely does. Listen, the guy completes a very high percentage of his passes. He’s about as good a leader as you could ever expect at a quarterback position. He has all the abilities and has made plays at the highest level of college football. So how can that not translate into a guy that can play in the NFL?

You know, there’s some people that pick holes in everybody. But this guy is maybe one of the best – or “the” best – college football player that has ever played the game.

Dan Mullen, what’s it going to be like to face Tebow this fall? (Florida and MSU square off on Sept. 24)

Mullen: It’s going to be a real neat experience. When you spend more time with Tim Tebow than you do with your own wife – which I did – you get that close relationship, you know that’s something that’s not going to change. I don’t see my relationship, my respect, my love for Tim Tebow to change because he’s on the other sideline, or 10 years down the road. He’s such an extraordinary young man. It will be a neat day for us to compete against each other. We’ll have a lot of fun doing it next October.

Are there any weaknesses in Tebow’s game?

Mullen: If you identify a weakness or something he’s not doing well, he wants to work as hard as he can to correct it. Everyone has weaknesses in their games. Someone like Tim Tebow really understands the fact that to become a great quarterback, he has to continually hone his skills every single day and improve.

Does Coach Mullen tell a lot of stories about Tebow?

K.J. Wright, MSU linebacker: He always bragging on Tim Tebow because we know he’s the man. He’s trying to get on us to be a leader like him, work hard like him. We like to hear stuff like that, cause that’s what we need.